Hawks V Chippenham match report
Havant and Waterlooville have put to bed their recent home hoodoo after defeating Chippenham Town 4-0 on a chilly afternoon at Westleigh Park. The game started with the presentation for November’s player of the month with Mike Carter winning the acolade.
5 minutes in and the Hawks took the lead as a free kick is played into the penalty area and onto the head of Ryan Woodford who rose highest and once he made a connection to the ball there was no stopping it as it nestled into down the centre. The perfect start for the Hawks.
Minutes later and the Hawks came close to a second as good link up play saw the ball placed into the path of Bradley Tarbuck who’s effort went just over the crossbar keeping the score at one.
However the Hawks was not to be denied a second for long as Fogden on the rebound fired home a delicious volley planting his laces straight through it. A rocket which Jason Matthews in the Chippenham goal could just watch in admiration as pandemonium reigned at Westleigh Park.
But Chippenham did have their chances in the first half as first a free kick was saved well by Young at the far post. Then after half an hour Dean Evans had a go from the best part of 35 yards with the hawks keeper tipping over. Then minutes after that opportunity Ferguson played the ball into the path of Dan Bowman who’s effort would stray just over much to the Hawks’ relief.
And with a matter of seconds left until the half time interval Jason Prior had an go at goal but his effort would not threaten Matthews who matched the shot.
HALF-TIME: Havant and Waterlooville 2-0 Chippenham Town
The second half didn’t start with much substance as the sun set and the christmas lights from the houses surrounding Westleigh Park illuminated.
The first opportunity of note in the second hald fell to the visitors as Josh Smile’s shot from the edge of the penalty area forced a good save out of Ryan Young in the Hawks goal.
Then 4 minutes later Wes Fogden made it three nil to the Hawks as Tubbs plays the ball forward towards the path of Jason Prior who’s effort is parried by Matthews only as far as Fogden who slotted the ball home to seal his brace and seal the match in the Hawks’ favour too.
Three minutes later Jason Prior would have another chance but on a frustraiting afternoon as he turns and shoots from the edge of the area but his effort goes wide of the mark.
Minute after that the Hawks made a double substitution as Theo Lewis & Matt Tubbs came off with Theo Widdrington & George Barker came on to see out the last 20 minutes.
Chippenham Town had their final opportunity of the game with just over ten minutes left as a flicked on header from a corner forced Ryan Young into a save to preserve his clean sheet.
With 8 minutes left the Hawks made it four as a mistake from the away team saw Prior pick up the ball and picks out Theo Widdrington who from the best part of 35 yards beats the oncoming man and unleashes a thunderbolt into the top corner to que a frenzy once more amongst Hawks fans as the goal of the season competition crancked up a notch.
FULL-TIME: Havant and Waterlooville 4-0 Chippenham Town
The Hawks now go into their massive tie away to Billericay having banished their scars at home with a fine performance and 3 points to boot. Now all attentions lie on the Essex side who under Glenn Tamplin has gained all the headlines but can the Hawks write their own fairytale story. We will wait with baited breath until next week to find out.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 